July 16, 2014

Ebola in Sierra Leone: Growing problem of escaped patients

Reports from Macauley Street Satellite Hospital in Freetown, say they recently confirmed that a suspected Ebola who was admitted at the facility has escaped.

Sources at the Macauley Street Satellite Hospital claim that a nurse known as Basiru from Daru arrived at the hospital claiming he had come to Freetown to sit to a public examination last week Saturday.

However, by Monday this week, this person allegedly began showing symptoms of diarrhea and upon an authorized Dr. Kamara (the Lab Manager’s) visit to the facility, he detected that the victim had contracted Ebola and had in fact been at the Kailahun Government Hospital.

Immediately, according to the sources, the patient was referred to a bigger health facility but there was no relative to look after him. The victim’s girlfriend who happened to be a nurse residing at New England Ville was also found to be Ebola positive according to the sources.

“Both of them have since been transferred to the Kenema Ebola treatment center,” Tamba M. Abu, Assistant Physician at Macauley Street Satellite Hospital told this press.

According to the Matron and Medical Superintendent at the hospital, they are mindful that people are at risk and that this is why they have not only chlorinated the room where the victim was admitted but have done the same to the entire facility.

“The hospital is in close surveillance for signs and symptoms from patients coming to the hospital. We are conducting contact tracing on all those that were on observation at the facility. We have safely disposed all properties belonging to the victims by burning,” a health official said.

It should be recalled that a couple of weeks ago, a confirmed case of Ebola was detected at Sumaila Town but the victim was quickly taken away.

However, there is a growing fear that with these Ebola escape cases becoming more frequent, there is a growing risk of it spreading to unprotected persons and areas; little wonder that law enforcement agencies have been co-opted to help.

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Reports from Macauley Street Satellite Hospital in Freetown, say they recently confirmed that a suspected Ebola who was admitted at the facility has escaped.

Sources at the Macauley Street Satellite Hospital claim that a nurse known as Basiru from Daru arrived at the hospital claiming he had come to Freetown to sit to a public examination last week Saturday.

However, by Monday this week, this person allegedly began showing symptoms of diarrhea and upon an authorized Dr. Kamara (the Lab Manager’s) visit to the facility, he detected that the victim had contracted Ebola and had in fact been at the Kailahun Government Hospital.

Immediately, according to the sources, the patient was referred to a bigger health facility but there was no relative to look after him. The victim’s girlfriend who happened to be a nurse residing at New England Ville was also found to be Ebola positive according to the sources.

“Both of them have since been transferred to the Kenema Ebola treatment center,” Tamba M. Abu, Assistant Physician at Macauley Street Satellite Hospital told this press.

According to the Matron and Medical Superintendent at the hospital, they are mindful that people are at risk and that this is why they have not only chlorinated the room where the victim was admitted but have done the same to the entire facility.

“The hospital is in close surveillance for signs and symptoms from patients coming to the hospital. We are conducting contact tracing on all those that were on observation at the facility. We have safely disposed all properties belonging to the victims by burning,” a health official said.

It should be recalled that a couple of weeks ago, a confirmed case of Ebola was detected at Sumaila Town but the victim was quickly taken away.

However, there is a growing fear that with these Ebola escape cases becoming more frequent, there is a growing risk of it spreading to unprotected persons and areas; little wonder that law enforcement agencies have been co-opted to help.